I shrugged. “Really let him go.”
“Is that what you want to do?” Mimi asked.
We were saying our goodbyes at the airport by security the day they left.
I shook my head, “No, but I just don’t see a happy ending with him happening.”
“Well, I can’t tell you how to feel, but I can definitely see how he feels about you. I think you’re wrong about him. Try and give him a chance to explain everything to you.”
“How can you say that? Did you see how he was with his fiancé? I know I did.” I rolled my eyes.
“I know what I saw. What did you see?”
I looked at Mimi. “I saw two people in love.”
She scoffed at me and folded her arms.
“That’s not what I saw. I saw two people going through the motions of being in each other’s presence. I saw a man who watched you like a hawk all day today. I saw a man apprehensive about how to be with you wondering if you would reject him or not.” She grabbed my hand and said, “I hope you don’t give up on him. You two belong together, and I think he finally got it. Let him make it up to you for the rest of his natural born life. Life is too short to waste it.”
I heard everything Mimi said. I knew she always had a soft spot for Mason. God knows, I wanted to believe her. I just couldn’t bring myself to believe in him anymore. Call it “time” or call it “coming to my senses,” but I needed to separate myself from him…and now.
It was a good two days later when he finally called me. He asked if I could meet him at his brother’s house, and he sent me the address. His brother lived in McKinney off of El dorado Parkway in a huge red brick house that I instantly fell in love with. I parked my car and was met by an angry conversation between Mason and Marcus, ending with Marcus telling Mason that he was no longer wanted around him or his family.
When Mason saw me approach, he put on a brave face. But for the first time, he didn’t mask his pain.
“There you are. I was wondering if you were going to show.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek.
“What’s going on? And what was that all about?”
I pointed to the direction of Marc’s house.
Mason sighed and looked at the house for a few minutes before replying, “He’s kind of pissed at me.”
I scoffed, “Kinda? Mason, he pretty much disowned you. What did you do?”
“He’s upset because I’m going with Roland to do a job, and he’s worried.”
I looked at him and frowned.
“And you blame him?”
“No, I don’t blame him. I just want him to understand, that’s all.”
“Come on, Mason. You can’t be serious. You can’t believe that it would be easy for him to, considering.”
“No, I didn’t mean to downplay everything. I just want him to…never mind. Look, I wanted to talk to you before I left. I want to make sure that we are still on for that talk.”
I looked down at the ground and didn’t reply.
“Allura,” I heard him call to me, and I knew it was now or never.
“Look, Mason. I really don’t think it’s a good idea we talk at all.”
“What?” He blanched and sort of moved back from me. “No, Maxine. Don’t…”
“No, Mason. You don’t. These last few months have been very hard on me. Seeing you again after all these years to find out you are getting married was the most painful things I ever went through. And now, God, I lost Kat. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’ve never in my life behaved the way I have with you. I’m not the type to sleep with someone else’s man, and I did it three times. I feel like a whore and a home wrecker. Most of all, I feel lost.”
Mason approached me, and he grabbed me by my arms.
“Allura, wait, okay? Just hear me out. I know I fucked this up royally. Hell, if I knew before I saw you at the beach that I would have a chance with you, I would’ve…Please just…Can you just wait until I get back? Can we just talk about this? About us? I don’t want to lose you again especially now since…” he didn’t finish as his phone started ringing.
He pulled it out and looked at the text message he got.
“Baby, I have to go, but, please…When I get back, promise me we can just talk. There are so many things I want to talk to you about, and I just want to have that chance. Please promise we can talk?”
Man, he looked so helpless and vulnerable I couldn’t say no. So, I lied and nodded. He hugged me tight and kissed me on my cheek, leaving me in his brother’s driveway. I stayed there and watched him drive off, never noticing Marie come out and stand next to me.